From Dawn Till Dusk

The Hubby saw Manila Ocean Park’s inauguration in the news the other day, so when I asked Friday night where we will make pasyal on weekend, he said suggested the marine-themed park.

The Pasyal Grinch Me
But even with the park’s inaugural in news reports, I doubted at first hand if the park is already open for public because for so many months, I have to believe that many expectators were kinda disappointed with the deferment of the park’s opening for so many times. As early as the first semester of 2007, it was said in the newspapers that the park will open December 2007. But then it was deferred. Another announcement came, which I learned through tarpaulins posted along Roxas Blvd. saying that the park will open February 2008. But same as the first announcement, it was deferred again. But Hubby was insistent that the theme park is already open, “Sige na, puntahan mo yung site nila so we’ll know the details”. So we surfed the park’s site, but unfortunately it was down. We googled it up and through Anton’s thread of comments in this post, we learned the opening was yesterday.

But still, I wasn’t that keen in going. I was kinda lazy to go out (umiral na naman ang katamaran, nyahaha) and so when the Hubby asked me early morning yesterday what our plans were for the day, I said we move our Ocean Park pasyal on a later date (come April or May perhaps) and instead, bum around the home and just go out to do our grocerying after Nico’s long-afternoon nap. So though itching to go, Hubby rested his case.

Afternoon came and Nico refused to nap, it seemed the Little Boy wanted to go lakwatsa. Hubby took the opportunity to convince me to go out, this time with no Manila Ocean Park plans. “O sige, samahan nyo na lang ako ni Nico sa client, tamang-tama mag-sasauli ako ng back issues, tapos grocery na lang tayo” Hubby said. So after much convincing (hindi pa nga ako nakaligo eh, heehee, ganyan ang habit ko pag weekends), he and Nico pushed the lazy me to once and for all take a bath and get ready. And there, off we drove to the Manila-based publication. Hubby finished everything and past 4PM we’re supposed to head home and just do the groceries at the nearest mall on our way…that is, if not for Ocean Park’s tarpaulins posted at lamp posts along Roxas Blvd. Nico saw them and cheering like duets with his Dada, they wanted to go to Ocean Park. “Eh baka hindi pa bukas yun. Ayun oh, nakalagay, February 2008 ang opening, pero March na, baka di pa bukas,” I said to the two boys. But you know, the boys were really insistent, and since there was a number indicated in the tarpaulins, the Dad suggested that I call the number, “Tawagan mo na kasi”. So then, kahit sinabi ko pang wala akong load at low batt ang phone ko, wala naman akong lusot. We had the wireless Bayatel lineline with us, so ayun na, I was forced to make the call. And when I called the number, much to my dismay, the person I’ve talked to said it was indeed the park’s soft opening yesterday. So then, we went.

My Two Boys’ Convincing Powers
We arrived at the park, past 5PM and even shocked with the lonnnnnng kilometer of visitors (imagine coming from Manila Pen to Makati Shangrila, that’s how long the line was!) but Hubby and Nico persevered and patiently waited still. That’s where I was convinced enough and realized that instead of being a pasyal grinch, I’ll just enjoy the rest of the afternoon with my boys. Finally at 6PM, we got our tickets (that’s P400 per adult and P350 for kids) but we took a little break for a while before we entered park proper and munch on little doses of donuts and fruit shakes because food and beverages are not allowed inside.

P/GMA’s billboard in front of the theme park.
The President led the inauguration sometime last week.


First time visitors posing for photo opps at the lawn front of the park.


This was how the long line of visitors was. Just imagine coming from Manila Peninsula to Makati Shangrila.


And after almost half an hour past, and we’re still in the middle of the long line.


But no matter how long the line was, Nico’s still charged at not really complaining.


Well not really complaining, except that he’s already getting hungry.


Finally, after one hour in the line, we got our tickets!


A souvenir shot in one of the fences


Food and beverages (except milk formula for infants) are not allowed inside the park, so we munched on some donuts and fruit shake before going in.

 

Inside the Ocean Park
The Manila Ocean Park, according to the multi-folded brochure they’re giving out to visitors, boasts itself of being the first world-class themed park to adopt a fusion concept—bringing together in one complex an Oceanarium, a mall, a restaurant row, boutique open water marine habitats and multi-purpose function facilities.

But since the park is still on its soft opening, The Oceanarium and the 2nd Floor Activity Area were the only parts that were opened. And that’s where we amused and entertained ourselves.

Inside the Multimedia Facility.


The sort of kaleidoscope electronic device atop gives changing lighting effects to the Multimedia Facility.


From green, to yellow, to violets, to reds.


…And blues. My Little Weekend Trooper wandering around the facility.


In front of the Oceanarium entrance signage.

Nico’s eyes were all glaring to almost every corners along our journey inside, most especially the 25-meter long underwater tunnel which showcases seawater creatures that he only got to see when we went to Ocean Adventure back in April of 2007.

While Nico’s pretty much occupied with the fishes and sea animal creature, little did I know that Hubby on the other corner, was busy laying his eyes on a business executive whom he said was inside the theme park. “Nakita mo yung lalaki na naka polo shirt na yun? That’s the owner of a theme park in …..” Heehee, I didn’t think that Hubby would be an unexpected stalker of the man for the rest of our tour to the park. Sabi ko naman, “Uy, kala ko ba Ocean Park pinunta mo dito, eh certified stalker ka dyan eh”. He just smiled back and said bonus na lang daw yun pagkakita nya sa business executive sa pasyal namin dun.

As for me, I enjoyed the tour as well, especially the taking lots of photos part. Too bad flash photography is not allowed inside (it will scare marine animals, the park tour guides says), so the challenge was to come up with not-so-blurry photos by using a larger opening and a high ISO.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Meanwhile, the other parts of marine theme park will have to wait for some more months to open. I know my two boys are really looking forward to that day, and when that day happens, I’ll make sure to prep up my lazy self and not be pasyal grinch at all.